WCS to be held July 27th to August 4th

On June 16th in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, the Japanese representatives were chosen for the World Cosplay Summit 2013. The winning two-person team, known as “Sakuji”, cosplayed characters from PlayStation game “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night”.

The World Cosplay Summit has been held yearly in Nagoya since 2003, and brings together the world’s best cosplayers for the purpose of cultural exchange. This year’s event will include 20 participating countries.

At the World Cosplay Championship portion of the Summit, entrants are judged on the three basic criteria of costume, performance, and faithfulness to the original work. The event is less of a competition and more of an opportunity for cultural exchange, self-expression, and taking photos.

After a series of regional events, five 2-person teams participated in Japan’s national finals to determine the country’s ambassadors. The teams cosplayed as characters from several anime and video game series, including “Kingdom Hearts”, “Black Rock Shooter”, “Mobile Police Patlabor”, “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children”, and “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night”, and were given 2 minutes and 30 seconds to perform.

In addition to the competition, there was a cosplay DJ event and cosplay fashion show, and a large number of cosplayers gathered outside the event site in Ikebukuro West Exit Park.

The World Cosplay Summit 2013 will be held from July 27th to August 4th. More details are available at the event’s official site.

The winning team, “Sakuji”, cosplayed characters from “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night”.

Team “Noir” cosplaying “Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children”.

Team “Rukou” cosplaying “Kingdom Hearts”.

Team “Ousei” cosplaying “Black Rock Shooter”.

Team “PAT25” cosplaying “Mobile Police Patlabor”.

Virtual singers Megurine Luka, Kaito, Meiko, and Hatsune Miku.

Characters from manga series “Gantz”, which ended its run just before the competition.

Asuka and Mari from “Rebuild of Evangelion”.

Heroine from video game “Amnesiac”, Haruka Nanami from game “Uta no Prince-sama”, and Koharu from game “NORN9”.